Just before hubby left to see some folks in Missouri, he and I talked about Morris and Opal.
I wondered out loud if she would ever give Morris a ride in the saddle. Both of us figured she wasn't of the temperament to try new things.
Especially at her age.
But Sunday morning I got her out for a ride. I tied her up to the hickory tree in the yard and let Morris loose. He ran circles around her and stopped to smell her hooves.
Now Morris has gone on rides with Opal before and she is fine with him running under her, behind her, and in front of her. She seems to be actually calmer when he is along and we are going solo.
He seems to sooth her for what ever reason. I did notice that effect on Siera also when he went along.
I attached the bell to her breast collar and then put Morris on the saddle. Morris acted terrified. Opal turned her head and looked at me.
I handed her a treat.
We stood there for a moment or two. Then I lifted Morris off the saddle.
Doing that at home and doing that on the trail was two different things.
I started out the ride with Morris in the saddle.
Both mule and dog were content.
Morris had a blast. He ran ahead of Opal. Then he would stop and smell and sniff. We'd ride past him ~ after a moment or two I'd call and he'd come blasting down the old logging trail on a dead run.
Being a mule, Opal kept a close eye on her little buddy.
And she didn't mind it when he scrambled to stay on while I mounted.
Just before we crossed the creek to head home, I stopped to let Opal eat some nice luscious grass.
Morris waited patiently and stood back watching Opal eat. When I lifted her head and put a foot in the stirrup, he came up and put his paw on her front leg.
Opal didn't move.
I put the tired Jack Russell on the saddle and mounted up.
She carefully carried Morris and I home.
I guess the answer to our question has been answered.
Yes, Opal will let Morris ride in the saddle!
And...he likes it!
Lucky for me this morning that I thought I forgot a piece of camera equipment up on Kolstad Road. I wouldn't have seen this beautiful scene.
Nor would I have seen this light on the tree leaves...
Turns out that I didn't forget anything. I just was so overwhelmed by the beauty of the sunrise.
The fog was so thick this morning that sometimes the camera would not even focus.
I was able to take advantage of the tripod that I brought along and some very interesting shots of dew.
Nature sure has some awe inspiring beauty.
It makes you feel small and humble.
I felt this today as I watched the sun turn the fog into an orange mist.
So Grumpy Gus also known as HIM has gone on a trip to someplace called Misery. No, SHE says Missouri.
I don't care it is past the driveway and I can sleep with HER if I want to.
We have big plans for the weekend. SHE promises to take me for a hike/ride with Siera the mule that lets me ride in the saddle.
We were going to have a campfire tomorrow night but there might be some rain ... SHE says we can cuddle on the couch and watch some movies.
Better if the movies were about Dogs and Cats don't you think? I like Hero dog movies myself.
I did not like Where the Red Fern Grows at all. I hid my head.
SHE says she is going away next week to a place called Virginia with her mom to visit her brother. Huh, I wonder if they are litter mates or what. I don't know my mom and haven't seen or thought about her since I came to live with HER.
Do you know how many years that has been?
9 yrs!
Here is me at 6 weeks old on my first hike:
Yeah yeah...I've gotten awful grey in the face since haven't I? This was taken September 18, 2004...
According to some website SHE looked up, I should be 56 years old. So that means I have a LOT of adventuring to do yet right?
One of my favorite passtimes is holding down the couch.
I hope we get out on some adventures soon. SHE is working some night hours so is pretty grumpy during the day.
SHE really needs to learn how to chill out like me...you can learn a lot from your dog you know.
Have a nice weekend.
I believe the word is Uber Cool. I don't know what an Uber is but that is okay as long as I am cool.
She came up to the catch pen with that lead rope and I knew it was my ticket to some fresh grass.
I used to be impossible to catch, but Val's got this way about her. She always has something interesting to offer when she has that lead rope.
Sometimes it is just a walk to a place with nice grass, sometimes there is some brushing stuff going on with a bite of sweet feed.
Sometimes it is to get my feet trimmed and a haircut.
Her rides are never unpleasant either. I mean she is never hard on me or difficult to get along with.
I like that in a human. I like them to be trained just right, and boy it has taken me about 17 years to get this woman trained just right.
I can almost always count on her to find me some wonderful green grass to munch on. Today she had a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwhich. I turned my nose up at it though,...it was not green enough for me.
The forest trees are dumping their leaves like crazy. They kept falling and hitting me on my ears. They didn't bother Val, she wears a helmet.
We really surprised some deer. That was fun to watch Val startle. IF she had been watching ME closely, she'd have known. After all my ears pointed them right out to her.
Then we found a real piece of work in the woods. I wonder sometimes who really builds these little houses?
Don't they want a roof over their heads? And what is with leaving the furniture out.
They must have been very little people.
Val explained that it was an old deer blind.
Oh.
Yup, that explains a lot. Old. Blind. Deer?
I'm confused.
Anyway when I got back I told Opal and Siera all about my adventure. Opal knew all about the Blind Deer thing.
Opal was also mad that she didn't get to go.
She promised to be first to the gate next time.
Siera nudged Opal and said SHE wanted to go.
I'm gonna keep my eye out on Val.
I may surprise them all and make it first to the gate, I gallop when I think she is coming!
Val said something about riding every day this weekend if she could.
That means I really got to keep an eye on her. I should be her favorite MULE. But she does take kindly to Grumpy ol' Opal, and Silly Siera.
There are many arguements for not solo riding, and I understand them.
You could have a spook and an accident and who would be there to help you?
But when there is no one to go with and you have the itch to ride, ... well you go.
I saddled up Fred and took him on the easy trails in the neighbor's land. I needed to get out and ride so even though Siera and Opal came up, I chose Fred. He is Mr. Steady Eddie.
Hubby is on his way to visit friends in Missouri so I couldn't resist taking off on a diversion.
Our fall colors are going to be pretty dull this year.
As you can see on the trail in front of Fred, so many leaves have already come off.
This was about the most color that I found today, but still very worth the time riding.
Besides, Fred did all the hard work of hiking.
We spooked up two very large does that bounded off through the forest. Fred saw them way before I did and so we were not alarmed.
Today I put a bell on his breast collar so that we would alert deer and not come right up on them.
Besides, it makes a nice jingly noise!
I however did leave a message with the neighor as to where I was going and called when I returned.
So I am being careful.
Tomorrow, I think Opal or Siera would like to go. If I take Siera, Morris can come with. He is getting on in age and likes to take a ride in the saddle with me. Siera will do that, Opal likes Morris's company but I don't believe she'd allow him on the saddle with me.
It is so quiet here in our little valley, the robins and most of the other migrating birds are gone. Today I heard chickadees and some Flickers along with a bluejay...the crickets are singing softly.
Autumn has arrived.
And it is a gorgeous time of the year.
Seems I haven't ridden in days.
But that could be do to my demanding schedule.
12 hour overnight shifts, day shift, night shift...all make for a weird sleep schedule.
I however did get out early the other morning with my cameras, one Nikon and one point and shoot for an awesome foggy morning sunrise.
I didn't realize how chilled I was while awaiting just the right light to get the 'right' shot.
Of course there is no such thing.
It is pure luck, either the sunrise combined with humidity and temperature make the right conditions ... or not.
In this case it seemed to have done perfectly for my purposes.
After the sun peaked over the ridge, I moved to another area to watch it rise again.
Seriously, in hill country you can do that!
Imagine my surprise when I discovered frost on the soybeans!
This last photo was taken with my point and shoot FujiFinePix camera. I posted it to Flickr and imagine my surprise when this morning I looked at my Flickr Account and realized that I'd had 49 thousand hits on this photo.
I think this just proves that you absolutely do not need the most expensive camera in the world to take a fine photo.
It helps to have good equipment. But this was not what I considered my best camera. It is my haul around the woods, climbing rocks camera.
But it seems like it is going to come anyway.
Temps later this week are going to drop. That is a bit different from yesterday's temps of 86 degrees and endless rounds of thunderstorms.
Morris and I did manage to get out and take a couple of short hikes.
Imagine my surprise when we found Indian Pipes!
Very cool plant and very elusive unless you know where to find them.
The multi flora roses are producing seeds in the form of Rose Hips. Pretty to look at...but the birds eat them and spread this invasive species throughout the woodland.
Their thorns have the ability to rip anything...I think!
Morris enjoyed playing King of the Forest.
You can see in this photo that the undergrowth is fading and leaves are dropping from trees.
Sometimes I don't want Fall to come along. Sometimes I feel like I need MORE summer time.
But I understand that we have the changes of seasons and that generally I enjoy the fall just as I do any other season.
Just as I enjoy the snows and winter.
But in my heart ... as it is every year, I'm not quite ready for the cooler season.
Once it is here though, I seem to embrace it with gusto each year.
